2026

Applications open early 2026. For more information, click here. 


2025

On Saturday, July 18, 2025, we proudly hosted our 5th Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony, honoring 11 remarkable scholarship recipients. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of our community—leaders, entrepreneurs, workers, and educators—who contribute throughout the year. Our largest fundraising effort comes during our Hispanic Heritage Celebration, which helps sustain this important work.

Through our partnership with LNESC, locally raised funds are matched at 60% by corporate partners, expanding the impact of every donation. In addition, thanks to the generosity of civil rights attorneys Christian Contreras and Denisse Gastelum, the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund has created a lasting legacy, ensuring that our council can provide six guaranteed scholarships each year.

Together, these efforts empower young people who have shown academic excellence, determination, and commitment to uplifting their communities as they pursue higher education.

Here are the scholarship recipients for 2025: 

  • Jessica Toledo, LULAC National Scholastic Achievement Award


 

  • Dominic Ortega, LULAC National Scholastic Achievement Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Andrea Rivas-Portillo, LULAC National Scholastic Achievement Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Ronaldo Sanchez, LULAC National Honors Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Dalieza Portillo, LULAC National Honors Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Angel Corona, LULAC National Honors Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Elizabeth Cisneros-Oakes, LULAC National Honors Award


 

  • Kaylee Vargas, LULAC National General Award (made possible by the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund)


 

  • Mayra Lam Yuen, LULAC National General Award


 

  • Jasmine Aranda, LULAC National General Award


 

  • Ariana Aparicio Aguilar, LULAC National General Award


 


2024

On Saturday 8/10/24, we had our 4th annual Scholarship Award Ceremony, made even more special with the inauguration of our partnership with the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund. We had a total of 9 scholarship awards, divided into 2 categories: the LULAC National Scholarship Fund and the Joseph Tracy IV Scholarship Fund. In selecting the award recipients, we carefully evaluated each student holistically on their academic achievements, their community involvement, their accomplishments and most importantly their resilience and character. Each of these students has demonstrated talents that show they have what it takes to succeed in their education as well as possessing the qualities that will enable them to become future leaders in the community. It is our pleasure to be able to support each of these students to aid in their academic endeavors.
The LULAC National Scholarship Fund are funds that our council raised and funds matched by our partner LULAC National Education Service Center, so it varies by year. This year we were able to distribute three Honors awards of $1,120 each.
The Tracy Scholarship Fund is the fund that was generously created by money donated from the Tracy Family attorneys Christian Contreras and Denisse Gastelum, in honor of Joseph Tracy IV. The funds will allow us to distribute six scholarship awards totaling $5,000 annually. We distributed the  six scholarship awards for this year, divided as follows:
  • 1 Distinguished Scholar Award of $2,000
  • 1 Excellence in Action Award of $1,000
  • 4 Merit Awards of $500 each
The Tracy family was in attendance at our Scholarship Award Ceremony, represented by Gina Tracy, mother of Joseph Tracy IV and Joseph Tracy III, father. 
Left to Right: Attorney Christian Contreras, Joseph Tracy III, Gina Tracy, and Attorney Denisse Gastelum.

 

  • Tracy Distinguished Scholar Award ($2000) to Ariana Aparicio Aguilar
A graduate from Tomales High School. She received her bachelors at Sonoma State University for Sociology and is currently attending UC Riverside to obtain her doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Policy.
Ariana Aparacio Aguilar


 

  • Tracy Excellence in Action Scholarship ($1000) Marilu Sanchez
 A graduate from La Sierra High School. She demonstrated excellent academic strength and leadership in her athletics in soccer and cross country. She will be attending UC Irvine pursuing mathematics.
Left to right: Maribel (mother), Marilu Sanchez (scholarship recipient), Rafael (father), Ronaldo (brother), Rafael Jr. (brother) 
Left to right: Rafael (father), Rafael Jr. (brother), Ronaldo (brother) 

 

  • Tracy Scholarship – Merit Award ($500) Elizabeth Cisneros-Oakes
A graduate from John W. North High School. She will be attending USC this fall as a Political Science major, minor in Math and Spanish, with aspirations to become an attorney.
Elizabeth Cisneros-Oakes
Left to right: Diego Katzenstein (boyfriend), Robert Oakes (grandfather), Marianne Oakes (grandmother), Elizabeth Cisneros-Oakes ( scholarship recipient), Alejandro Cisneros (father), Rocío Pichon-Riviere (step-parent) 

 

  •   Tracy Scholarship – Merit Award  ($500): Iliana Perez
A graduate from Ramona High School. She has demonstrated excellence in her academics being dual enrolled at Riverside City College. She will be attending UCLA majoring in Biology and aspires to become a pediatrician.
Left to right: Elena (mother), Iliana Perez (scholarship recipient), Emiliano (brother and past scholarship recipient), Jorge (father).
Iliana Perez


 

  •   Tracy Scholarship – Merit Award ($500): Jasmine Aranda
A graduate from La Sierra High School. She will be attending UC San Diego pursuing a degree in International Business.
Jasmine Aranda


 

  •   Tracy Scholarship – Merit Award ($500): Tristan Jauregui
A graduate from Norte Vista High School. He demonstrated excellent academics, character growth and a passion to help others. He will be attending UC San Diego, majoring in Psychology and aspires to be a therapist.
Tristan Jauregui
Left to right: Maria (mother), Tristan Jauregui (scholarship recipient), Ashlyn (sister) 

 
The following students received the LULAC National Scholarship Fund – Honors Award for their outstanding work and based on their academic performance, motivation, and community involvement.
  • Honors Award ($1,120) to Isabella Evans
A graduate from Ramona High School. She has demonstrated significant leadership and creativity, while performing well academically and advocating for diversity. She will be attending UC Davis where she will be pursuing Biochemistry.
Isabella Evans
Left to right: Loretto Evans (mother), Brandon Grezbein (father)

 

  •   Honors Award ($1,120) to Lizet Avila
A graduate from Norte Vista High School. She demonstrated excellent academic achievement with a passion for community advocacy. She is a first generation college student and will be attending Cal Poly Pomona pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Left to right: Yovani (brother), Martin (father), Lizet (scholarship recipient), Adela (mother), and Martin Jr. (brother) 
Left to right: Adela (mother), Lizet Avila (scholarship recipient), Martin (father)


 

  •   Honors  Award ($1,120) to Ivan Gonzalez
 A graduate from Norte Vista High School. He has overcome personal challenges and is passionate about automotive technology. He will be attending Riverside City College to pursue a career in Automotive Technology.
Ivan Gonzalez
Top Left to right: Juan Carlos Gonzalez (father), Nathaly (sister), Ivan (scholarship recipient), Brenda Larios (mother), and at bottom center, Melanie (sister).